he is the agent and the tutelar divinity, if divinity ever wore a long gray beard or condescended to be propelled by steam. Maj. H. also represents the several Virginia watering places, several of which are advertised in our columns. "But it is in neither of these characters or capacities that Maj. Hotchkiss is best known to the Press. He is the great Pacificator, whose chosen mission it has been, and is, to bring together in social intercourse the exponents of public sentiment, North and South, that each may know the other better and be the better prepared to duly weigh and wisely consider the circumstances under which the opinions of the other have been formed and the motives that have shaped and directed the actions of all in their respective walks and conditions in life. These 'circumstances' and 'motives' constitute the lines of defence, the bulwarks, in which Prejudice and Prepossession have retired from the vigorous assaults of Reason, and now it appears that Major Hotchkiss is determined that these shall be stormed and carried along with the rest, not at the point of the bayonet nor with the logic of shot and shell, but at the mouth of the social bottle and by the persuasive eloquence that appeals to man from that 'tocsin of the soul-the dinner bell.' With this patriotic purpose in view he has successfully planned and carried out one or more Editorial Excursions, by which 'the reflectors of the public mind' North have been brought in contact and intercourse with those of the South, much to the edification and benefit of both. He is now engaged in getting up an excursion of Southern Editors, which will meet at Ford's Hotel in Richmond on the 14th of June and going thence North by the Richmond and York River Road, make the whole Northern tour via Baltimore, Philadelphia, Elmira, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Canandaigua, Seneca Lake, (that 'Silver Lake' of which Percival sung,) Syracuse, Watertown, the Thousand Islands, ‘fair Wyoming,' etc., etc.-returning to Richmond on or about the fourth day of July. We acknowledge our indebtedness to the Major for a card of invitation for this excursion, and assure him that if we fail to avail ourself of the permission it conveys it shall be the fault of circumstances." We quote from the Elmira (N. Y.) Gazette of April 12th, 1872: “At the meeting, yesterday, in this city on the part of Major N. H. Hotchkiss with the Editors of Elmira and with A. O. Bunnell, of the Dansville Advertiser, (the Secretary of the New York State Association,) it was arranged that the Southern Editorial Excursion party should leave Richmond, June 15th, and arrive in Elmira, Monday morning, the 17th; leave Elmira on the morning of Tuesday, the 18th, for Buffalo, where they will arrive about noon; leave Buffalo Tuesday evening, the 18th, for Niagara Falls; leave Niagara Falls Wednesday afternoon, the 19th, for Rochester; leave Rochester Thursday morning, the 20th, for Canandaigua; leave Canandaigua Friday morning, the 21st, for Watkins Glen; leave Watkins Glen Saturday, the 22d, by boat on Seneca Lake for Geneva; spend Sunday, the 23d, in Geneva, leaving there for Syracuse on Monday, the 24th. At Syracuse they will join the New York Editorial Association party en route for Watertown, and will participate in the entertainments to be given there to the New York Editorial Association, and also in the exursion to Montreal by way of the Thousand Islands, returning to Watertown on Friday afternoon, 28th. The Southern party will leave next morning for Binghampton, but by what route has not yet been determined. From Binghampton the party will go down the celebrated Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, stopping at Scranton, Wilkesbarre and Northumberland, and from the latter place go direct to Baltimore, and from there 'on to Richmond.' The party will consist of about fortyfive editors from various parts of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland, and will be under the leadership of the indefatigable Major Hotchkiss. It is suggested that arrangements be made at the several places in this State, above mentioned, for the suitable entertainment of our Southern brethren, and any arrangements agreed upon should be communicated to A. O. Bunnell, Secretary of the New York Editorial Association, Dansville, Livingston County, to whom the matter has been referred by the leader of the party. Arrangements for entertainments at localities in Pennsylvania should be communicated to Major N. H. Hotchkiss, traveling agent of the Chesapeake and Ohio and Richmond and York River Railroads, No. 90 Light street, Baltimore." The Dansville Advertiser, of New York, May 9th, said: "The Southern Editorial Excursion.—There is nothing new to offer in regard to this excursion, excepting the statement that the interest of the Northern people is daily becoming more awakened to the importance thereof, and that many are earnestly considering the effect this visit will have in the promotion of that fraternal feeling which should exist between the two sections of country, lately so earnestly and so bitterly at war with each other Personally acquainted with many of the Editors of Virginia who will probably accompany this party, we know there is to-day no nobler, no more patriotic class of men in this country, and none more worthy of distinguished consideration at the hands of the citizens of the North. Hospitable and generous-hearted to a fault are these men, and our most earnest hope in this connection is that we may be able to convince them, by their reception and entertainment here, of our cordial feeling toward the South, and our high esteem for them personally, as fully as they, by their entertainment and reception of the party of Northern Editors last spring, convinced us that it was thereafter our own fault did we not grow toward each other as members of one happy family. We are almost daily receiving letters from different points to be visited by this party, indicating that we shall not be disappointed in our estimate of the hospitality of the citizens of the Empire State or their friendly feeling toward the residents of the Old · Dominion. That the indefatigable Major N. H. Hotchkiss has charge of the Southern end of the line is, without another word, sufficient assurance that no one need have any concern for his party before it reaches the State line 'And not a wave of trouble rolls across our peaceful breast." Under such auspices, the Southern Editors assembled in Richmond, June 14th, 1872, and we will now take up the narrative as given by themselves. Excursion of the Southern Editors to the North. DEPARTURE FROM RICHMOND. From Richmond to Baltimore we took the York River Line of which our chief, Major N. H. Hotchkiss, is traveling agent, and I have no hesitation in saying that no traveling can be more delightful than that was. The York River Road runs from Richmond to West Point, at which place the Pamunkey and Mattapony unite, forming the celebrated York, famous the continent over for its delightful fish and oysters. The road is ably managed, well conducted and excellently located with reference to historic incident although devoid of striking scenery. Seven or eight miles from Richmond it passes through the very heart of the battle field of Seven Pines, and a few miles further on skirts the scene of the bloody contest at Savage Station. Crossing the Chickahominy about fifteen miles from the city it runs through what was once McClellan's camps, the celebrated White House at the crossing of the Pamunkey and the base of the Northern army at West Point. Here at this latter point we reach the York river, spread out, like a vast sheet of molten silver, to the width of a mile or more and affording sufficient depth of water for vessels drawing not more than fourteen feet. At West Point our party took the staunch old bay steamer State of Virginia, Captain Freeman, master, and within five minutes from the time of leaving the train were steaming rapidly out towards the crystal waves of the grand old Chesapeake. The wind which had been refreshing from the time we left Richmond now gave promise of rough weather on the bay, and full many a land lubber began to estimate the probable duration of a spell of sea-sickness after reaching the land. But after passing Yorktown itself, no insignificant spot in American history, the breeze abated, leaving just enough roughness on the green waves to relieve them of their general monotone and to dimple the face of the bay with refreshing gladness. This, however, we were not long able to enjoy, because having embarked at five P. M. the descending night soon threw her mantle over the scene and shut out all but the veiled moon and a few faint stars from our gaze. At eight the next morning we were almost within hail of Baltimore, passing close under the walls of the half completed Fort Carroll and running beneath the very muzzles of the guns of McHenry. This latter fortification was the great stumbling block in the way of the British General, Lord Ross, in the war of 1812, and his unsuccessful attempt to reduce it gave rise to the American national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner." On this part of the bay and for about twenty miles before reaching this port, we met hundreds of steam and sailing vessels of all tonnages and descriptions, from the lithe dancing pongy and sturdy tug to the regular merchant ship "which bringeth in goods from afar." At the wharves there grew a regular forest of masts, shooting up like phantom monarchs of the forests from the hundreds of vessels at rest in port. We found the York River Line a decidedly pleasant mode of traveling, the State of Virginia an admirably managed and provided craft, (especially in the matter of cuisine,) and would recommend all who travel in search of either health or pleasure to adopt it in preference to any other line between Richmond and Baltimore. An organization was effected on the Steamer, and the following gentlemen selected as officers: Judge George W. Wilson, Upper Marlboro Gazette, President; W. H. H. Lynn, Staunton Vindicator, Vice-President; S. H. Letcher, Lexington Gazette, Secretary; John THE NEW ROUTE BETWEEN RICHMOND AND CINCINNATI, OPENED TO HUNTINGTON, On the Ohio River, connecting with the Company's new and commodious Packets to Cincinnati. First-Class Road and Equipment! Superb New Pullman Palace Coaches ! The Westinghouse Patent Air-Brake! Miller's Platforms, Couplers and Buffers! AND IN FACT ALL THE MODERN IMPROVEMENTS! This Route passes through a succession of the most varied scenery in the world. Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains, Greenbrier, New and Kanawha Rivers, and their varied attractions, convince the traveler that this is indeed the SWITZERLAND OF AMERICA: NOTE THE FACT: That the Rates by this Line are Lower than by any other. TICKETS ON SALE AND BAGGAGE CHECKED FROM ALL PRINCIPAL TICKET OFFICES. ASK FOR TICKETS BY THE CHESAPEAKE & OHIO R. R. AND LOOK AT THEM BEFORE YOU TAKE THEM. K THE GREAT CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILROAD! OPENED BETWEEN RICHMOND AND HUNTINGTON. The Only Direct Line from RICHMOND to CINCINNATI and the WEST! Magnificent Equipment, First-Class Eating Houses and the Finest Scenery in the World. St.Joseph Leavenworth Topek Kansas KANSAS Parsons IND. Albia Red Cedar W Dubuque Marshall A Iowa City Fulton Ottumwa Burlington Chillicothe R. Ft.Scott Seneca Quincy Hannibal Brunswick Osage Mexico JEFFERSON CY. R Hancock Springfield Rock Id. Joliet Galesburg H ST.LOUIS Bismark Poplar Bluff Jacksonport ARKAN LITTLE ROCK Arkadelphia E X A Trinuy R. Sabine R. S Hempstead MEMPHIS Pana Vandalia Sandoval utralia Kankakee CHICAGO FLWayne, Sheldons Muncie LANSING DETROIT TOLEDO Piqua NOTANAPOLIS Rush V Haute Lawrenceb Effingham Mt. Carmel Flora K Humboldt Macon MOBILE Nincennes Ohio g OOVINGTON Madison LOUISVILLE Norton N N Tombigbee R N T U LEXINGTON JO Nicholas V Glasgow Jc. Memphis Je Cumberland R. Mitchellviye E S Columbia Waynesboro A Ľ S Tennessee R. Rome Newark Chillicothe Buffal Warren Rochester NEW Dunkirk Ridgway PENNSYLVANIA Parkersb WES Barbours CHES. Kingston GE Montgomery Pittsburg CHARLESTON Kanawha Fs. IR OHIO HINTON Warm Bedford Rockbridge Salt Sulph.Sprs. ●WHITE SULPH. SP,Ă Red Sulphur, Sp Albany Catskill Springfield Lorcester apolis Delaware Cape May Suffolk Strasburg LOTTES V CHAR STAUNTON Alum Hot Sp. Healing Sp. COVINGTON Ibingdon Sp Greenwood VIR Greensboro NORTH York V Lynchburg Burkeville Danville Warrenton Salisbury Petersburg Weldon RALEIGH R ARULINA Norfolk Savannah R. COLUMBIA Graniteville Aiken Cape Fear R HARLESTON Albermarle, Sd. NA Beaufort Hatteras MAP OF THE CHESAPEAKE & OHIO RAIL ROAD AND ENG'D FOR THE NATIONAL RAILWAY PUBLICATION CO. BY Direct Connection with CINCINNATI and the WEST by the Company's STEAMERS BOSTONA AND FLEETWOOD. At RICHMOND with Richmond & Weldon route from Petersburg, Norfolk, Weldon, Wilmington, Raleigh, Florence, Charleston, Savannah, and all points in Florida. At RICHMOND with Richmond and Danville line from Danville, Greensboro', Charlotte, Columbia, Augusta, and Savannah. At RICHMOND with James River Packet Company from Norfolk and Hampton, Va. At RICHMOND with the Richmond, York River and Chesapeake R. R. for Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. CONNECTIONS. At GORDONSVILLE with Washington, City, Vir- At CHARLOTTESVILLE with W. C. V. M. and FISK & RUSSELL,N,Y. At MILLBORO' with stages for Bath Alum, Hot, Healing and Warm Springs. At COVINGTON with stages for Healing and Hot Springs. At ALLEGHANY with stages for Sweet Chalybeate and Sweet Springs. At TALCOTT with stages for Red Sulphur Springs. At KANAWHA FALLS with stages for Raleigh Č. H. At HUNTINGTON with the elegant and fast going steamers Bostona and Fleetwood for Cincinnati. Providence |